Exploring factors behind project scope creep – stakeholders’ perspective

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the different views of major project stakeholders about the factors that contribute to poor project scope leading to project scope creep. Design/methodology/approach Major factors of project scope creep are identified using commonality analysis of stakeholders’ views. An interview-based industry research method is applied to collect data from different projects in the United Arab Emirates. Findings Relying on stakeholders’ theory, the study proposes a framework for managing project scope creep. Results indicate that communication is among the major causes of project scope creep, as reported by all project stakeholder groups in this study. Practical implications The study is expected to support the assessment of the causes of project scope creep, simultaneously expanding knowledge on the topic for both researchers and practitioners. Originality/value This study is among the first few to explore the commonality of various stakeholder views in the factors that hinder project success.